current obsessions

Wet Hot American Summer

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Kyle and I have watched this movie multiple times in the past month. It's just the right kind of stupid humor, and the casting is fantastic. Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper? Yes, please. (And if we're being perfectly honest, also David Hyde Pierce, because I love me some Niles Crane. Whatever.)

Real Simple

The website, anyway--I don't have a subscription to the actual magazine (yet). I love all of the decorating and organizing tips, and it's become my go-to for recipies. I guess you know you're an adult when you actually want to read about how to make creamy spinach enchiladas and tips for packing luggage.



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I'm drooling.



Old Navy

I went to Old Navy a few weeks ago to pick up a green tank top for St. Patrick's Day, and my jaw dropped when I saw all of their new spring clothes. I'm fairly certain I would take one of everything in the store. Thankfully, I showed some restraint and just bought this:



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But I also wouldn't mind snagging this, this, and this (of course).

What are you currently loving?

weekend love

Oh, sweet weekend. I'm so glad you're here. Who's with me?

I'm looking forward to drinking a few of these:



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Seeing one of my favorite local bands, The Northern Skies play downtown:



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Finishing my current read:


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 And delving into this:

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As per usual, I'm also hoping to fit in a jog and some baking. (Counter productive? I choose to say no.)

What are your weekend plans?

what i would do if i were supreme ruler of netflix instant

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It's probably no secret that I'm a Netflix addict. While books will always be my first love, I just can't help but enjoy having literally thousands of movies and TV shows at my fingertips.

While Netflix has been in some hot water recently with its consumer base, I'm too hooked to drop it like a bad habit. However, I do have some suggestions that I would like to see implemented. So, if any of you lovely people reading this are big wigs at Netflix, take note.

What I Would Do If I Were Supreme Ruler of Netflix

1) Do away with movies by mail.

Can we just make every-single-freaking-movie-ever-in-existance available on Instant Watch? I know that this is a tall order, but it would certainly make things much easier.

2) The ability to split one account into multiple ques.

This is imperative. While Kyle and I have a lot of things in common, movie tastes just typically isn't one of them. For example, these are the movies that Kyle put in our que recently: Terminator, the short-lived '80s cartoon Street Sharks, and Pirates of Penzance. (He obviously has very diverse tastes.) I'm more partial to Overboard, Frasier, and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Wouldn't be great if we could just have our own ques so that I don't have to deal with suggestions like, "Since you enjoyed Terminator so much, would you also like to watch Twins?" Answer: No. No, I would not.

3) Netflix for (not)smart phones.

Turns out, there's not an app for that. My phone is ancient, and is definitely not app-compatible. I'm actually totally ok with this (technology stresses me out), but that doesn't mean I wouldn't love to be able to watch The X-Files on my lunch break. So come on all you techo-wizards! Invent a way for me to watch Netflix on my 2009 LG enV phone.

4) Create a reward/points system to unlock cool features.

You've just finished watching your favorite episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and you're just dying to listen to a commentary from Captain Picard Patrick Stewart. But, whaaa? There's no special features option? But you're a loyal Netflix customer! You want perks! Here's where my rewards system comes in. The more you watch, the more you unlock: Special features, commentary, bonus episodes! It's like a surprise every time you log in!

5) And last, but certainly not least, add these shows:

+ Murphy Brown

+ Wishbone 
+ Are You Afraid of the Dark?
+ You know what? Make that all '90s era Nickelodeon, including Nick@Nite
+ M*A*S*H


Alright, Netflix. Time to get on that. I'm counting on you...and expecting full credit (and compensation) for all of these improvements. You're welcome.


Aaaaand now I'm off to watch Mad Men. Damn you, Netflix.


Disclaimer: Netflix did not approve this message. Also, I don't really want to be supreme ruler of anything. Can you imagine? Yikes. 

i could get used to this

You guys, it was 80 degrees in GR on Wednesday. In Michigan...in freaking March. This is a big deal.

Rather than being responsible adults (e.g. going grocery shopping, doing laundry, blahblahblah), Kyle and I said screw it and went to the beach.

We drove 40 minutes out to Grand Haven from GR and grabbed a pizza along the way. We put our toes in the sand (and in the lake, which is still freeeeezing by the way), watched the sunset, and listened to the new Springsteen album. I could watch the sun set over Lake Michigan over and over and over again. Now that's my idea of heaven. 

Upon our return to GR, we discovered our neighbors having a porch party. (These are quite the event on our street and usually occur Friday nights in the summer. We've never had one this early!) We spent the remainder of the evening laughing and drinking homebrewed IPA. (Brewed by our neighbor from across the street. It doesn't get any more local than that!)

I wish every single day could be like this. Sunshine, Lake Michigan, and laughter with friends. Although there are certainly seasons in life when everything feels like hell, it's days like this that remind me that it gets better, and that life can be grand once again.


Sending all of you love from the Mitten.

weekend love

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It has been downright balmy here in the Mitten as of late. Last night I baked cookies in shorts and a tang top with fans blowing every which way to combat the heat---from both the weather and our ancient oven!

This weekend we're visiting my parents and sister. I'm hoping to have dinner with BFF Shannon and her boyfriend, reupholster a chair with my mom, and just all around enjoy my family's company.

Also, MUST. CLEAN. CLOSET. Ugh, I keep putting this off. It's overflowing with clothes that need to be taken to Goodwill.

What are your plans for the weekend?

weekend love

Sunshine on our street

This week has simultaneously flown and crawled by. I'm not sure how that managed to happen, but so I'm grateful the weekend is finally here.

I'm hoping to whip up some cupcakes, paint my nails, and do some spring cleaning. (If I don't clean out my closet soon, it might explode. True story.) Finding a bit of time for jogging and reading would be nice, too. For now, I'm off to dinner with my in-laws.


Hope you're having a lovely weekend, friends. Enjoy the sunshine!

mandatory fun

I'm headed out to a mandatory office happy hour tonight after work. I just can't help being reminded of this:

I'm really hoping one beer won't make me super chatty, as has been known to happen in the past. Ugh, how embarassing...

Happy (Thirsty) Thursday!